[vinyl addict]

I'm new to the headphone thing and will be using a turntable as the source. Looking to spend around $1500 for both pieces. Should I spread the funds 50/50? What do you think?

 

[F107plus5]

"Vinyl addict" huh.

Yeah, I'll make a wild guess, and suspect that you'll probably need tubes. You may wish to plan on a greater percentage for an amp.

......not that you can't find a good tube amp for $750.

 

[alex_cs]

i suppose assuming the funds are there, it is always better to reach the headphones limits rather than the amps.

for that moeny you can get a great amp and some great phones. it probably spend 2/3 on the amp, 1/3 on the phones.

 

[vinyl addict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F107plus5 "Vinyl addict" huh. Yeah, I'll make a wild guess, and suspect that you'll probably need tubes

Not necessarily. My preamp is tubed for added warmth and my cartridge has wonderful bass so I'm open to solid state.

Thanks guys!

 

[nabwong]

I suggest to get the headphones with the sonic signature you like best and then think about amplification.

 

[F107plus5]

Yeah! Considering the good start you've got in the right direction already, I'd go for the best cans too!

 

[Large4mat]

Changing headphones will make the most dramatic impact on the sound of your system.......much more so than changing an amplifier. With that being said, you'll probably need to spend a minimum of $300.00 to get an amp worthy of vinyl. Some great headphones can be found in the $250.00 to $600.00 range. I'd pick a headphone and spend the balance on the amplifier and cables.

 

[nikongod]

the best thing is ballance.

a $1400 amp with a $100 headpohone will sound like the $100 headphone.
a $1400 headphone with a $100 amp will sound like the $100 amp.

buy gear that matches eachother well and be happy.

 

[BlueSundays]

I had a cary 300 sei and had sennheiser 600s with them with the equinox cable. now mind you they were very good, but not exactly what I wanted.
when I came back around to trying the senns again, this time with cardas cable(for senns) It was perfection.

The cary 300 sei really made the senns shine like no other.

blue

 

[AsuAmo76]

It is head-fi, not amp-fi.

Quote:

a $1400 amp with a $100 headpohone will sound like the $100 headphone.

right

Quote:

a $1400 headphone with a $100 amp will sound like the $100 amp.

Nope. Amp only sounds when it's fallen from the shelf. Here is my answer:

a $1400 headphones with a $100 amp will sound like $1400 not properly driven headpones.

 

[vinyl addict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod the best thing is ballance. buy gear that matches eachother well and be happy.

If it were only that easy

Thanks to all you fine folk here, I'm learning a lot and not getting any sleep going through the threads

 

[paulllaser]

Head Room has a great deal on AKG K-701 with their Desktop Amps. For a bit less, the baseline Desktop. For a bit more, the maxed out Desktop with external power supply.

 

[Solude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinyl addict Looking to spend around $1500 for both pieces.

Jumping right in, good for you. What's your current speaker rig and are you happy with it? We should be able to recommend a can/amp duo to mirror your speaker rig.

That said if I had $1500 to spend over again... Senn 650, Zu Mobius, HeadAmp GS1. Another option AKG 701, Moon Black Dragon, SinglePower PPX SLAM.

But knowing what you have and where you want to take it will help.

 

[vinyl addict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nabwong I suggest to get the headphones with the sonic signature you like best and then think about amplification.

Good point, however, I will probably buy the amp first...the Single Power MPX3 and find a good pairing headphone, so roughly $1000 for the MPX3 and $500 for the cans...

 

[vinyl addict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solude Jumping right in, good for you. What's your current speaker rig and are you happy with it? We should be able to recommend a can/amp duo to mirror your speaker rig. That said if I had $1500 to spend over again... Senn 650, Zu Mobius, HeadAmp GS1. Another option AKG 701, Moon Black Dragon, SinglePower PPX SLAM. But knowing what you have and where you want to take it will help.

Thanks Solude. I'm very happy with my systems sound. I just want phones for those late night listening sessions. You can view my gear in my profile.